Veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin is set to join Sydney Thunder for the upcoming Big Bash League season, becoming the first capped Indian men’s cricketer to feature in Australia’s premier T20 tournament.
The 39-year-old, who called time on his IPL career last month, "is understood to have committed to the Thunder," 'Fox Sports' reported. The franchise is expected to make an official announcement later this week.
Ashwin has also thrown his hat in the ILT20 auction ring, and following its culmination on January 4, he is likely to join the Thunder for the latter part of the season, which runs from December 14 to January 18.
Earlier this month, Cricket Australia CEO Todd Greenberg had approached Ashwin for his participation in the BBL after he announced his IPL retirement. The BCCI regulations don’t allow active Indian men’s cricketers to take part in overseas leagues.
Since Ashwin did not register for this year's BBL overseas draft, Cricket Australia will need to grant him an exemption, similar to the late approval that allowed Martin Guptill to join Melbourne Renegades in 2022.
The deal could be a game-changer for the BBL. Ashwin is one of the most popular cricketers in India and will generate guaranteed eyeballs from the sub-continent, which is the biggest market for the sport that every non-IPL league competes for.
Ashwin bid adieu to international cricket in December 2024, midway through the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia. He represented India in 106 Tests, 116 ODIs, and 65 T20Is, picking up 765 wickets across all formats.
Ashwin finished his career as the country’s second highest wicket-taker (537 scalps) in Test cricket, only behind Anil Kumble’s record tally of 619 dismissals.
Ashwin played a total of 221 IPL matches and claimed 187 wickets at an economy rate of 7.20, finishing as the fifth-highest wicket-taker in the league’s history.
Sydney Thunder Squad: Wes Agar, Tom Andrews, Cameron Bancroft, Sam Billings, Ollie Davies, Lockie Ferguson, Matt Gilkes, Chris Green, Ryan Hadley, Sam Konstas, Nathan McAndrew, Daniel Sams, Tanveer Sangha, Pat Cummins, Shadab Khan, and David Warner (Captain).
